Traveling-case.



PATENTED MAR. 2lA

A. K. TASHJIAN.

TRAVELING CASE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1904.

NTTED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

ARMENAG K. TASHJIAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRAVELING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION 'Ormng part of Letters Patent No. 785,188, dated March 2l, 1905.

Application led February 5, 1904. Serial No. 192,068.

T0 all 1071/0711/ t muy concern:

Be it known that I, ARMENAG K. TAsHJIAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traveling-Cases, ot' which the following is a specilication.

This invention has reference to that class of traveling-cases wherein a body and a top section are so relatively arranged that the one is adapted to slidingly telescope within the other, whereby the capacity of the case can be varied according to the requirements of theuser. A familiar type ot' the class of case referred to is what is popularly known as a dress-suit case.

The more prominent object of the present invention involves a novel and peculiar construction of the class of traveling-cases adverted to, and particularly to those prior arrangements wherein it has been proposed to employ key-operated locking devices for positively securing and retaining the relatively telescoping sections in any of a plurality of positions to which they may be adjusted, with a view of varying the capacity of the article.

There are also cert-ain improved details connected with the invention, which, in addition to those alluded to, are clearly explained in the subsequent extended description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view ot' a traveling-case embodying my invention, said case being' represented as adjusted and locked in a condition for affording the maximum capacity. Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view of an end portion of said case and showing the latter adjusted and locked for atfording an intermediate capacity. Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 2, but showing the case adjusted and locked for afordinga minimum capacity. Fig. l,tis an enlarged detail sectional view showing more particularly one of the swinging side supports, the section being in the plane indicated by the broken line t 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating more especially the arrangement for adjusting the handle, the section being in the plane indicated by the broken line 5 5, Fig. l, but representing a somewhat more telescoped relation of the top and bottom sections of the case. Fig. 6 is a detail elevational view disclosing, on an enlarged scale, a form of locking device capable A6, the section being in the plane indicated by j the broken line 8 8 in said last-mentioned tigure, and the dotted lines indicating the hasplock swung upward in a disengaged position. Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding` parts in the several figures of the drawings wherein they occur.

The body-section A and top section B as disclosed are generally of rectangular character and are capable of the top section B fitting telescopically upon the section A for presenting a traveling-case oi' variable capacity. Binding-straps C C may be arranged to embrace the case somewhat near each end portion thereofl and be slidingly guided through suitable guide-loops c c, secured on the top of the section B, the free ends of these straps at the handle side of the case presenting tongueand-buckle provision c c' for enabling such ends to be adjustably attached in order that said straps C C can bearranged to tightly clamp the case. Manifestly these straps C C can be used supplemental to the locking device or devices to be presently described for relieving the latter of undue strain that might be induced by internal expansion of the case contents. However this may be, the strap CC can be utilized for retaining the case-sections together in the ordinary manner when the locking device (or devices) is not resorted to. While the bottom and top sections A B may be of sheet metal of a condition insuring the desired degree of lightness aswell as durability, in the construction illustrated such sections are intended to be of leather or other flexible material of the required toughness and capacity for withstanding hard usage, as

-the present construction arises from the fact that they coact with the locking provision in conditioning the case when locked from giving away at the weakest portions and are also capable toa certain extent of resisting unauthorized forcing open of the case at said points.

Although the locking provision is shown as being at one end only of the case, it will be readily appreciated that such provision may be at both ends and so adapted that the same key will serve to operate bothlocks.

The locking provision disclosed comprises generally a keeper member E and lock-carrying member F, (see Figs. l to 3 and 6 to 8, inclusive,) the keeper member embodying a narrow vertical plate E', provided at its lower end with an inwardly-extending foot Ewhich is so riveted against the bottom part of the body-section A that the plate E is maintained in a relatively central position with respect to the end of the case-section A, but at such distance therefrom that a shallow space e, open at its top, intervenes between said plate and such section end.

Externally projecting from the plate E is a vertical series of studs e, the position of which corresponds With the plurality of the telescopic adjustments in which the sections A -and B are to be locked. Each of these studs has a notch in its upper side, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 8. v

Riveted on the corresponding end of the top section B is the lock-carrying member F, which embodies a vertically-extended housing F', supported in such apposition with respect to the keeper member E that the plate E of the latter is adapted to enter or leave the housing F to a' greater or less extent, according to the relative telescopic movements of the case-sections A B, the plate E and housing F being guided in such movements by reason of the plate E moving between the housing-front and the end wall of the section B and a central part of such end wall of the section B playing snugly within the space e at the back of said plate.

At the lower end of the housing F is a hinged hasp-lock F2, adapted to be swung down and take over Whichever of the studs e that may be immediately below the lower end of the housing. This hasp-lock F2 is of such closed character that it only presents an opening at the back for admission within the lock of the particular stud over which it is swung tion and functions of both.

and a keyhole f in its front for permitting the insertionk of a proper key for throwing a pivoted tumblerf' into or out of engagement with the notch e2 of the particular stud with respect to which the lock is in coactive relation.

From the description thus far it will be readily comprehended that by properly adjusting the sections A B while in an unlocked condition the capacity of the traveling-case may be varied to aiford any of several capacities, and thereafter by the swinging down of the hasp-lock and the proper application of the key said sections can be locked in the particular adjusted relation to which they may be moved.

As' it will be highly desirable that facility be afforded for adjusting the position of the carrying-handle proportionate with any of the adjusted conditions of the case-sections, l provide for such variations of the handle G by permanently securing the ends of the same to two straps G G', which are of such length that they span the handle side of the case, the end portions of the straps overlapping the top and bottom surfaces of the sections A B to a limited extent and passing through tongueequipped buckles g, such overlapping portions at both ends containing a plurality of tongueengaging perforations, by means of which that part of each strap between its two points of engagement may be lengthened or shortened proportionate with the relative extension or contraction of the case-sections' and the position of the handle thus regulated.

One of the ends, g, of each strap G is of such character as Will permit its ready disengagement from its particular buckle, while the other end, g2, of each of said straps is laterally enlarged. By this means both straps G' can be completely detached to permit the top section to be lifted clear of its companion, the enlargements g2 contributing to prevent the said straps from becoming completely detached from the other buckles, and thus avoiding liability of the straps becoming lost or misplaced and also obviating the trouble incident to an entire readjustment of said straps.

ln order to relatively brace and intimately maintainthe side edges of the sections A B when the latter are in the maximum extended relation, I locate in each side wall of the section A, closely adjacent to the upper edge of each wall, an arched opening a, and immediately below each opening rivet a plate A. As the arrangement at both sides with regard to the particular feat-ure now being set forth is the same, a further description of one will suffice for an understanding of the construc- Connected by a hinge-joint to the upper end of the plate A is an angular bracket or support A2 of the shape indicated most clearly in Fig. 4 and adapted to be swung on its hinge connection forward or backward through its companion opening a. The extent of the angular bend in IOO IIO

ISO

said support is such that when the top section B is removed and the support is swung forward to occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 the top section B can be readjusted to occupy a position of maximum capacity, under which condition the lower edge of said section will at an intermediate point rest on and be supported by the horizontal part of the support, while the vertical portion of the latter will bear against and confine the lower edge in intimate and braced relation with regard to the corresponding edge of the contiguous side wall of the section A. Obviously the same conditions can be made to obtain at the opposite side o't' the case.

Vhen the sections A B are to occupy a more contracted relation, such supporting and braced conditions will not be required, and both .brackets A2 are swung inward to each occupy the position indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 4.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangements of parts shown and described, but

reserve the right to all modifications that may be within the scope of my inventio.

Having now described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination in a traveling-case, of body and top telescopic sections equipped with keyactuated provision for locking said sections in any of a plurality of positions, and hinged brackets secured interiorly on the sides of one of said sections, each bracket embodying a shoulder and outer part at an angle thereto, said brackets adapted to be swung to a position to engage the adjacent portions of the adjacent section, when both sections are adjusted for affording a maximumcapacity.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of January, A. D. 1904.

ARMENAG K. TASHJIAN.

Witnesses:

CHAs. L. WOLF, M. BENDER. 

